Parliamentary questions

Child Care Services

Anne Rabbitte

785. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of hours of formal child care per week and the number of weeks per year a child will have to undertake for their parents to be eligible for the universal child care subsidy. [37498/16]

Gambling Legislation

Anne Rabbitte

44. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when a new Gambling Control Bill will be published, in view of the fact that heads of a Bill were published in 2013. [36629/16]

Household Benefits Scheme

Anne Rabbitte

106. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason voluntary day centres for elderly persons have no entitlement to the free TV licence which is part of the household benefits package (details supplied). [36506/16]

Health Insurance Prices

Anne Rabbitte

183. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health if his Department, or a body under its aegis, has considered any proposals for improving pricing transparency for private health insurance; and his views on whether the opacity of pricing in the sector has a negative impact on the cost of health insurance for households. [36490/16]

Child Care Services Provision

Anne Rabbitte

215. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the introduction of the new affordable child care scheme will necessitate any changes to legislation; and if an amendment will be required to the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 to add her Department or another body to Schedule 5. [36479/16]

Child Care Services

Anne Rabbitte

216. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way the proposed system of administering the new affordable child care scheme will determine eligibility via the online system for persons that do not opt for joint assessment of income; her views on whether persons, for example, unmarried and-or cohabiting that have not opted for joint assessment of income could be considered eligible if they input the PPSN of one partner earning below €47,000, even if both their collective incomes taken together would be above the threshold; and her further views on whether the system proposed to determine automatic eligibility could be discriminatory against persons that have opted for joint assessment of income. [36480/16]

Child Care Costs

Anne Rabbitte

221. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her Department, or a body under its aegis, has considered any proposals for improving pricing transparency for child care fees in centre based child care providers; and her views on whether the opacity of pricing in the sector has a negative impact on the cost of child care for parents. [36499/16]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Anne Rabbitte

443. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the reason surgery is not being sanctioned in UCHG due to hospital pressure; and when a person (details supplied) will receive a reliable date for surgery. [36139/16]

Child Care Services Inspections

Anne Rabbitte

256. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of inspections and the number of visitations of each child care provider and the number of providers inspected, in each Tusla service area in 2015 and 2016, in tabular form. [35283/16]

Child Care Services Inspections

Anne Rabbitte

257. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of crèches or other centre based child care facilities that had more than one inspection by Tusla in 2015 or in 2016; the location of these facilities; and if reasons are provided for a second or subsequent inspection. [35380/16]

Child Care Services Data

Anne Rabbitte

258. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of crèches or other centre based child care facilities that were found not to be compliant with child care staff to child ratios in each year since the introduction of these regulations. [35381/16]

Child Care Services Inspections

Anne Rabbitte

259. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of unannounced visitations to child care facilities that took place in 2015 and 2016 in each Tusla service region; her views on whether the centre based child care facilities should receive at least one unannounced visit by Tusla inspectors per year; and her Department's and Tusla guidelines on the number of unannounced visitations there should be. [35382/16]

After-School Support Services

Anne Rabbitte

260. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the regulations in terms of staff to child ratios and other child welfare and protection regulations that exist for after school child care; her views on whether regulations in this area are not requisite to deal with expansion in the after-school sector for children up to 15 years of age; and her further views on whether they will need to be strengthened. [35383/16]

Child Care Services Regulation

Anne Rabbitte

261. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if it is a statutory requirement for child care providers to maintain a logging system noting hourly supervision rotas and the staff to child ratios that pertained on any given day. [35384/16]

Garda Resources

Anne Rabbitte

30. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if recorded crime statistics for County Galway are an accurate reflection of the reality of crime in the area; if all Garda stations in County Galway have access to the PULSE system; if not, the details of the stations without access; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34725/16]

Garda Deployment

Anne Rabbitte

83. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda stations and the number of gardaí in each in County Galway on 31 October 2010 and on 31 October 2016; the proportion of the proposed 800 additional recruits in 2017 that are likely to be assigned to County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34726/16]

HSE Properties

Anne Rabbitte

438. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the reason St. Brendan's Community Care Unit Mortuary was closed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34429/16]

Bus Éireann Services

Anne Rabbitte

684. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason there is a designated Bus Éireann bus shelter located at a location (details supplied) but no stop or pick up point; and if it will be made a designated pick-up and drop-off point. [34969/16]

Child Care Costs

Anne Rabbitte

18. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on the lack of income progressivity in the universal child care subsidy as announced in budget 2017; and her views on whether the scheme is fair on households the income of which falls just above the income threshold for the targeted child care subsidy. [33783/16]

Child and Family Agency Funding

Anne Rabbitte

20. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount of funding allocated to Tusla in budget 2017 which will go towards implementing the provisions on aftercare contained in the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015; and the progress being made by Tusla in ensuring that every child leaving care has an aftercare plan in place. [33784/16]

School Completion Programme

Anne Rabbitte

31. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has had discussions with Tusla on the need to increase the budget to the school completion programme; her views on whether there is a need to restore funding to this community programme; and if she has satisfied herself that it is well funded. [33342/16]

Child and Family Agency Funding

Anne Rabbitte

36. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount of funding allocated to Tusla in budget 2017 which will go towards implementing the provisions on aftercare contained in the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015; and the progress being made by Tusla in ensuring that every child leaving care has an aftercare plan in place. [33341/16]

Child Care Services Provision

Anne Rabbitte

41. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on the lack of income progressivity in the universal child care subsidy announced in budget 2017; and her further views on whether the scheme is fair on households whose income falls just above the income threshold for the targeted childcare subsidy. [33338/16]

Child Care Services Provision

Anne Rabbitte

44. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way in which a household's eligibility for the new targeted child care subsidy scheme will be determined; if it is intended that PPS numbers will be employed for this purpose; if she has had discussions with the Data Commissioner in this regard; and the expected administrative costs of the means-testing system. [33340/16]

Child Abuse Prevention

Anne Rabbitte

55. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of ongoing reforms in practices for dealing with adult disclosure of child sexual abuse cases by Tusla; if she or officials in her Department have any concerns over the way in which these cases are being dealt with by Tusla; and her views on whether any regulatory or legislative changes are required in this area. [33339/16]

Child Care Services Provision

Anne Rabbitte

523. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way a household's eligibility for the new targeted child care subsidy scheme will be determined; if PPS numbers will be employed for this purpose; if she has had any discussions with the Data Commissioner in this regard; and the expected administrative costs of the means-testing system. [33797/16]

Greenways Development

Anne Rabbitte

29. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he expects the proposed greenway from Dublin to Galway to be completed; his proposals to resolve issues that have arisen among parties along the Athlone to Galway section; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32764/16]

Tourism Project Funding

Anne Rabbitte

39. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress being made in developing the lakelands initiative; if he has committed funding to the project in 2017; and when he expects the project to be completed. [32765/16]

School Enrolments Data

Anne Rabbitte

123. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools, by county, that have fewer than six classes per school registered with his Department, in tabular form. [32511/16]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Anne Rabbitte

127. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason it is the case under the staffing ratio for small schools that a school can gain a second teacher with 15 students, but only if the single teacher has children across six or more class groups, the so-called six class adjustment; and if a school that has 15 pupils can gain a second teacher if it has less than this number of classes. [32620/16]

Teacher Recruitment

Anne Rabbitte

128. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) will be eligible to gain a second teacher in 2017-18 if they have 15 pupils spread across three class groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32621/16]

Traveller Accommodation

Anne Rabbitte

182. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when his Department will be in a position to support a family (details supplied) with a demountable home. [32828/16]

Medical Products

Anne Rabbitte

327. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health if a drug (details supplied) can be legalised here. [32731/16]

Social Insurance Rates

Anne Rabbitte

91. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on a decision that six contract meter readers, CMRs were employed under a contract of service, that is that their employment was insurable under the Social Welfare Acts PRSI class A, subject to earnings requirements rather than class S which is the class that has been applied to them since 1994 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32275/16]

Flood Relief Schemes Applications

Anne Rabbitte

106. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the funds that have been granted through his Department for an engineer for south Galway lowlands project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32276/16]

Flood Relief Schemes Applications

Anne Rabbitte

107. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the funds that have been granted through his Department for conducting an EPA for the south Galway lowlands project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32277/16]

State Properties

Anne Rabbitte

108. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost of creating a new entrance to the archaeology museum from the office of the Leader of Seanad Éireann while works are being carried out on Seanad Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32278/16]

Flood Relief Schemes Applications

Anne Rabbitte

109. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason for the delay with the Kiltartan scheme in south Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32279/16]

Home Help Service

Anne Rabbitte

123. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health his views regarding the delivery of home help packages and the persons available for delivery of service; his further views on the ongoing issue of unanswered phones in Galway home help offices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32174/16]

Home Help Service

Anne Rabbitte

131. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health his views on the delivery of home help packages; if he will confirm the persons available for delivery of service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32250/16]

Child Care Services Regulation

Anne Rabbitte

195. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the grandfather scheme applies to child care providers which have years of experience in the sector and run their own business; if so, when this grandfather scheme is due to expire; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32271/16]

Farm Assist Scheme Applications

Anne Rabbitte

331. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will be interviewed in view of the fact the person has not received funding since reaching 65 years of age in February 2016 and has completed and submitted applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31980/16]

Hospital Appointments Delays

Anne Rabbitte

464. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health if he will prioritise an operation for a person (details supplied) in County Galway as a matter of urgency in view of the fact that this person is waiting indefinitely as a high-priority case for surgery; if he will issue a date for the operation; the reason surgeons have to wait in a lottery from month to month to be able to perform surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31902/16]

Basic Payment Scheme Applications

Anne Rabbitte

523. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments will issue to a person (details supplied). [31942/16]

Tourism Project Funding

Anne Rabbitte

553. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress being made in developing the lakelands initiative; the amount that has been allocated to developing this initiative to date; the amount that will be allocated to developing it in 2017; and the amount its development will cost in total. [31510/16]

School Costs

Anne Rabbitte

56. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills the action he will take to address the disparity in school costs which exist from school to school throughout the country; and the inequality faced by parents by providing funding for a free primary education system as costed by a charity (details supplied) at €103 million. [31062/16]

Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme Applications

Anne Rabbitte

150. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when approval of funds will be released to a person (details supplied) under the TAMS II young farmer capital investment scheme. [31079/16]

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Anne Rabbitte

151. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason there was a variance in payments to a person (details supplied) in view of the fact entitlements paid in 2015 were to be based on 2013. [31082/16]

National Treatment Purchase Fund Waiting Times

Anne Rabbitte

54. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health his views on the September 2016 figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund which showed that 1,805 persons are waiting more than 18 months for an outpatient appointment in Galway University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30653/16]

National Treatment Purchase Fund Waiting Times

Anne Rabbitte

111. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health his views on the September 2016 figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund which showed that in excess of 5,000 children are waiting more than a year for an outpatient appointment in the three children's hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30652/16]